How negative emotions play into pain

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase before, or maybe not!

“What you don’t address emotionally, shows up physically”

I’m a sucker for simple phrases because it’s easier to digest, but let’s dive into this a little more.

How often do you feel yourself get into a heightened state such as anger, anxiety, frustration, maybe lonely and you don’t take any action to try to counter it. I do understand that these are not just fleeting moments for some people and a daily struggle, but there is still something you can do to help combat it. But you don’t, right?

You lack the time to take a break from working, or don’t have enough time in the morning to meditate for 10 minutes, or maybe you’re just stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts and are having a hard time seeing the positives in situations.

But now something happens in your day (as it always will) and you start your day in a heightened state. Three hours later, you are having low back or neck pain.

It’s easy to think that this is another thing to pile onto your plate, but it may in fact be the same exact issue (the heightened emotional state) that is causing the pain.

We hold A LOT of tension in our bodies - specifically our necks and our low back. When we get into, and stay in a heightened state your body starts screaming at you (as pain) to get into a more relaxed state for your health. You can’t stay in the ‘fight or flight, I’m being chased by a bear"‘ state all day. Your body was not made for that - yet that is exactly how we’re all living day-to-day.

Next time you are experiencing pain (because pain is an experience, not a thing), I want you to stop and just assess where you are emotionally and mentally. Odds are, you are not in the rest and digest state. You are stressed, frustrated, angry, or some other negative emotion.

Take 3 minutes, and do some deep breathing.

As you inhale, breathe the air into your lower back - it’s possible. Think of sending all of the clean, white, healing air into your low back, right where your pain is. As you exhale, let that tension ease and feel the slightest release in tension. Do 15-20 of these breaths and you’ll be feeling pretty good.

We have to start connecting the dots between our physical body and our mind. It’s easy to talk about the mind-body connection; but it can be difficult to practice it. Start by shining a light on your emotional state, and just breathing. Tiny steps can create powerful actions.

I believe in you.